Most people lose sight of their fitness and fat loss goals entirely this month, only to have a rude awakening when their clothes are snug come January.

It’s really no wonder most people gain weight during the holidays.

Want to sidestep those holiday pounds? I’m here to be your voice of reason and to make sure that you don’t forget your goal. Stay fit this holiday season with these 3 steps:

Step #1: Get Re-Focused

The focus in so many of our holiday traditions is on food. This holiday season try to re-focus your attention away from food and back on to what’s really important—friends, family, giving, and religious traditions. Stay focused on the reason for the season rather than the plate full of hors d’oeuvres in front of you.

It’s important that you don’t lose sight of your dieting goals. Remind yourself of all the progress that you’ve made. Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind. Be aware that the holidays can be a time of emotional eating. Sometimes stress, family conflict, or even depression can be triggered. If this happens to you, try to address the root of your problems with solutions other than food or drink.

Step #2: Use Strategy

It’s important to use strategy when approaching the many celebrations held this time of year. With night after night of parties and events, you’ll need to pace yourself in order to keep your diet on track.

The most obvious, and effective strategy is to not arrive at the party hungry. Instead, eat a small low-calorie snack ahead of time to prevent overeating. When it’s time for extreme measures, wear tight-fitting clothes around your waist so there’s not much room for expansion!

Another idea is to chew gum before and after a meal, so you won’t be tempted to overindulge in appetizers and desserts. During the party, don’t stand right next to the food table, instead keep a safe distance. And before you get a plate of food, choose your selections wisely. Use a small plate instead of a large dinner plate and don’t go back for seconds!

Another important strategy is figuring out how to get in the gym between parties. Finding room in your busy holiday schedule for exercise will help you fight off the extra weight trying to attach itself to your midsection and rear.

Step #3: Moderation, Moderation

I’m not suggesting that you deprive yourself of all the foods you love, as this will likely lead to a spurge that ruins all your good intentions. Be smart about what you choose to eat. Enjoy the goodness of the season, but in moderation. Trim calories where you can by limiting your trimmings-cheeses, gravy, sauces, creams, and nuts.

Some of your favorite indulgences may only come around this time of year. This may cause you to want to overindulge before it’s too late. Instead of stuffing yourself, survey what foods are available and make your choices. Indulge in your favorites and leave the everyday dishes for another time. Only eat what you love, and don’t just eat something because it’s on the buffet.

Also, be sure to limit the amount of alcoholic beverages you drink. While you may not know it, they’re filled with calories, too. Try alternating an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink.

Follow these simple tips, and you will avoid holiday weight gain this season and start 2014 off right!

Exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss. Stay tuned for a post tomorrow about how to approach exercise in a way that will have you burning calories during this busy holiday season!